JP4232229B2 - Container spacing adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container interval adjusting device. For example, when a container that has been continuously conveyed by a conveyor is supplied to a container processing apparatus such as a filling machine, the interval of the container is set to be constant. The present invention relates to a container interval adjusting device to be adjusted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, when a container that has been continuously conveyed by a conveyor is supplied to a container processing apparatus such as a filling machine, the interval between the containers is separated to be equal to the interval between the filling nozzles of the filling machine to be a constant interval. After that, it is necessary to carry in the filling machine. In addition, when a container that has been loaded into the filling machine and filled with a liquid is sent to a container processing apparatus for the next step such as a capper, an interval between containers that the filling machine processes and an interval between containers that the capper and the like process If they are different, it is necessary to adjust the container interval to a predetermined size by the container interval adjusting device so that processing in the capper can be performed.
[0003]
Conventionally, as the container interval adjusting device as described above, a guide bar extending radially at equal intervals is attached to the outer periphery of the rotating body arranged on the side of the conveyor that conveys the container, and the rotating body rotates to rotate the conveyor. By sequentially engaging the guide bar with the upper container and feeding it to the downstream side, the distance between the containers is adjusted to a constant size according to the distance between the tips of the guide bars. However, in the container interval adjusting device having such a configuration, each time the size or shape of the container changes, a large number of guide bars must be exchanged, which requires manpower and time, and many types of guide bars are prepared. In addition, it was necessary to keep the cost high.
[0004]
Therefore, the applicant has adjusted the container interval by changing the distance of the portion engaged with the container by moving the guide bar in the radial direction without replacing the guide bar. An apparatus was proposed (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-9854). The container spacing adjusting device described in this publication forms a plurality of radially extending sliding grooves on the lower rotating member of a rotating body arranged on the side of a conveyor that conveys containers, and each sliding groove Each of the guide bars is slidably fitted, and an arcuate guide groove that intersects with each of the radial sliding grooves is formed on the upper rotating member that can rotate relative to the lower rotating member, A pin provided on the guide bar has a configuration in which these arc-shaped guide grooves are engaged. Further, during normal operation, both the upper and lower rotating members of the rotating body are locked by operating the lever so that they do not rotate relative to each other. Then, when the lever is loosened and the upper rotating member is rotated, the pin of the guide bar moves in the guide groove of the upper rotating member, and accordingly, the guide bar moves in the radial sliding groove of the lower rotating member. By moving forward and backward, the amount by which the guide bar protrudes from the rotating body is changed. As a result, the size of the space between the containers can be changed according to the size and shape of the container without removing and replacing the guide bar.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the container interval adjusting device having the above-described configuration, all the guide bars can be moved forward and backward in the radial direction by rotating the upper rotating member, and the interval between the front end portions engaged with the container can be changed. However, in order to rotate the upper rotating member by human power, a very large force is required, and it is difficult to change the position of the guide bar according to the size of the container. In addition, a container interval adjusting device having a structure in which the guide bar is moved back and forth between the upper and lower rotating members as described above is known in the prior art. There was a problem that the lever could not be operated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a container interval adjusting device that can easily rotate relative to the upper and lower rotating members of a rotating body and can easily change the interval according to the size of the container. It is intended to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The container interval adjusting device according to the present invention includes a rotating body composed of a pair of upper and lower rotating members that can rotate relative to each other , a rotating shaft that rotates the rotating body, and a radial direction formed on one of the rotating members at equal intervals. A sliding groove, a guide bar fitted in each sliding groove so as to be movable forward and backward, a guide groove formed on the other rotating member and intersecting each sliding groove at an equal angle, and An engaging portion provided on the guide bar and engaged and guided by the guide groove, and by rotating both rotating members relative to each other, each guide bar is moved forward and backward in the sliding groove. Further, a sun gear that is arranged coaxially with the two rotating members and is rotatable relative to the two rotating members, a planetary gear that meshes with the outer periphery of the sun gear, and an outer periphery of a path around which the planetary gear revolves. Fixed gears, which are arranged on the planetary gears, Provided on one of the rotating member, wherein a shaft for rotatably supporting the planetary gears is provided, and a boss fixed to the other rotary member fitted to regulate the vertically movable and rotate relative to said rotary shaft, By rotating the sun gear, the one rotating member is rotated through the revolution of the planetary gear, the guide bar is moved forward and backward, and the boss is moved up and down with respect to the rotation shaft, thereby rotating the rotation. The height of the body is adjusted .
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a container interval adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. This container interval adjusting device (indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole) includes two upper and lower rotating bodies (the lower rotating body in FIG. 1 is indicated by 2 and the upper rotating body is indicated by 2A). The bodies 2 and 2 </ b> A rotate integrally to adjust the distance between containers (not shown) conveyed by the conveyor to a constant size. Since both of these rotating bodies 2 and 2A have substantially the same configuration, only the lower rotating body 2 will be described, and the upper rotating body 2A will be denoted by the same reference numerals with the same reference numerals. A reference numeral is attached and description thereof is omitted.
[0009]
The lower rotating body 2 is superposed on a base wheel 8 in which a lid member 4 fixed on the upper part and a lower rotating member 6 are integrated, and the lower rotating member 6 in the base wheel 8. An upper rotating member (rotary disk) 10 capable of relative rotation is provided. The base wheel 8 is fixed to the upper end of an upright rotating shaft 12 rotatably arranged at the center via a connecting cylinder 14, a connecting plate 16, a support sleeve 18 penetrating the inner peripheral side, and the like. 12 and rotate integrally. The lower rotating member 6 of the base wheel 8 is formed with a plurality of radial sliding grooves 8a at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the guide bar 20 is advanced and retracted in the radial direction in each of the sliding grooves 8a. It is possible to fit. The tip portions 20a of the guide bars 20 are engaged with the container and rotated, thereby adjusting the distance between the containers to a predetermined size.
[0010]
On the other hand, the rotary disk 10 is disposed between the lid member 4 of the base wheel 8 and the lower rotating member 6 that holds the guide bar 20, so that the rotating shaft 12, the support sleeve 18, the base wheel 8, and the like are located. Can be rotated. The lid member 4 of the base wheel 8 is formed with an arc-shaped long hole 8 b concentric with the base wheel 8 and the rotary disk 10, and the tip of the lock lever 22 is screwed into the rotary disk 10 through the long hole 8 b. Are combined. When the lock lever 22 is loosened, the rotary disk 10 can be rotated relative to the base wheel 8 within the range of the arc-shaped elongated hole 8b. When the lock lever 22 is tightened, the rotary disk 10 is moved to the base wheel 8. And rotate as a unit.
[0011]
The rotary disk 10 is formed with an arcuate guide groove 10a disposed so as to intersect with the respective sliding grooves 8a provided radially on the lower rotating member 6 of the base wheel 8. Pins 24 are respectively attached to the inner end portions of the respective guide bars 20, and the upper ends of the respective pins 24 are engaged in the respective guide grooves 10a. Therefore, when the rotary disk 10 is rotated relative to the base wheel 8, each pin 24 moves in the radial direction along each guide groove 10a, and each guide bar 20 advances and retreats in the slide groove 8a. .
[0012]
A sun gear 26 that is rotatably fitted around the support sleeve 18 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the lid member 4 of the base wheel 8. Three planetary gears 28 are arranged at equal intervals around the sun gear 26 and mesh with the outer periphery of the sun gear 26. Further, a fixed gear 30 fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the lid member 4 of the base wheel 8 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the planetary gears 28 that revolves, and the planetary gears 28 mesh with the inner surfaces thereof. Three pins 32 project upward from the upper surface of the rotary disk 10 and are inserted into the planetary gears 28 to rotatably support the planetary gears 28. An operating handle 34 is attached to the sun gear 26, and the sun gear 26 can be rotated by operating the handle 34.
[0013]
The lower rotator 2 has the above-described configuration, and the upper rotator 2A has the same configuration as the lower rotator 2. However, the upper rotator 2A further depends on the size of the container. The height can be adjusted by moving it up and down. A mechanism for raising and lowering the upper rotating body 2A will be described. The lower end portion of the rotation reference shaft 40 is inserted and fixed in the support sleeve 18 to which the base wheel 8 of the lower rotating body 2 is fixed. A wheel-fixing boss 42 is fitted to the upper outer periphery of the rotation reference shaft 40. A spline is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotation reference shaft 40, and the fixing boss 42 can be moved up and down along the spline, and relative rotation is restricted.
[0014]
A top cover 46 is connected to the upper end of the fixing boss 42 via a ball bearing 44 so that it can rotate relative to the fixing boss 42. A screw shaft 48 having an external thread formed on the outer peripheral surface is fixed to the center portion on the inner surface side of the top cover 46. On the other hand, in the upper end portion of the rotation reference shaft 40, a female screw member 50 is fixed, and the screw shaft 48 is screwed. Therefore, when the top cover 46 is rotated, the screw shaft 48 is rotated with respect to the female screw member 50, the top cover 46 and the fixing boss 42 are moved up and down with respect to the rotation reference shaft 40, and are further fixed to the fixing boss 42. The upper rotating body 2A is moved up and down as a whole.
[0015]
On the cover member 4A of the base wheel 8A of the upper rotating body 2A, a lock screw 54 is provided via a bracket 52 so that the rotation of the top cover 46 can be restricted. During normal operation, the lock screw 54 is fastened to the top cover 46 to prevent the top cover 46 from rotating so as to prevent the rotating body 2A from moving up and down, and the rotating body 2A according to the size and shape of the container. When changing the height, the lock screw 54 is loosened so that the top cover 46 can be rotated.
[0016]
The effect | action of the container space | interval adjustment apparatus 1 which concerns on the above structure is demonstrated. The container interval adjusting device 1 is disposed on a side portion of a container transfer conveyor (not shown), and adjusts the interval so that the containers conveyed by the conveyor are separated and the interval becomes constant. When the interval between containers to be adjusted is small, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the guide bar 20 is retracted radially inward according to the adjustment interval between the containers, and is arranged on the conveyor and conveyed. A side guide (not shown) for guiding both sides of the container to be moved is moved so as to approach the container interval adjusting device 1 according to the size of the container.
[0017]
The containers conveyed on the conveyor are engaged with the tip portions 20a of the guide bars 20 and sequentially sent out to the downstream side. Since the distance between the front end portions 20a of each guide bar 20 is the same, and the upper and lower rotating bodies 2 and 2A are rotating at a constant speed, the interval between the containers sent from the container interval adjusting device 1 to the downstream side is as follows. It becomes constant and is supplied in time with the operation of the container processing apparatus such as a filling machine.
[0018]
When the interval of the containers adjusted by the container interval adjusting device 1 is increased, the guide bar 20 is moved forward in the radial direction according to the interval. In the container interval adjusting apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the guide bar 20 can be moved forward and backward between the position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in each figure, and is adjusted. The guide bar 20 is advanced to a predetermined position in accordance with the interval between the containers, and the distance between the portions 20a engaged with the container at the tip of the guide bar 20 is changed. When the position of the guide bar 20 is changed, first, the lock lever 22 is loosened to release the fastening between the base wheel 8 and the rotary disk 10 so that the rotary disk 10 can rotate with respect to the base wheel 8.
[0019]
After the lock lever 22 is loosened, the sun gear 26 is rotated by operating the handle 34. When the sun gear 26 rotates, the three planetary gears 28 meshing with the sun gear 26 revolve along the inner periphery of the fixed gear 30 while rotating. When the planetary gears 28 revolve, the pins 32 inserted into the planetary gears 28 rotate integrally, so that the rotary disc 10 provided with the pins 32 rotates with respect to the base wheel 8. Then, the pin 24 of the guide bar 20 engaged in the guide groove 10a of the rotary disk 10 moves in the radial direction. As a result, as described above, each guide bar 20 advances and retreats in the sliding groove 8 a provided in the base wheel 8. As described above, since the rotary disk 10 is rotated with respect to the base wheel 8 via the sun gear 26, the planetary gear 28 and the fixed gear 30, the operation is extremely easy without requiring a large force.
[0020]
Further, when the height of the upper rotating body 2A is raised and lowered according to the size of the container or the like, the lock screw 54 tightening the top cover 46 is loosened and the top cover 46 is rotated. When the top cover 46 is rotated, the screw shaft 48 is moved up and down with respect to the internally threaded member 50 that is screwed together. After the rotary body 2A is raised and lowered to a desired height, the top cover 46 is locked by tightening the lock screw 54 so that the rotary body 2A does not move up and down from the position during operation. In this way, by adjusting the height by raising and lowering the upper rotating body 2A by an extremely simple operation, it is possible to deal with various types of containers having different sizes.
[0021]
In the above-described embodiment, the container interval adjustment device 1 including the upper and lower two-stage rotating bodies 2 and 2A has been described. It is also possible to replace the upper and lower rotating members 6 and 10. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the shape and number of the guide bars 20 are not limited to those shown in the drawing.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a rotating body composed of a pair of upper and lower rotating members that can rotate relative to each other , a rotating shaft that rotates the rotating body, and a radial direction formed on one of the rotating members at equal intervals. Sliding grooves, guide bars fitted in the respective sliding grooves so as to be movable back and forth, guide grooves formed on the other rotating member and intersecting each sliding groove at an equal angle, and Each guide bar is provided with an engaging portion that is guided by being engaged with the guide groove, and by rotating both rotating members relative to each other, each guide bar is moved forward and backward in the slide groove. In the container interval adjusting device, a sun gear that is arranged coaxially with the two rotating members and is rotatable relative to the two rotating members, a planetary gear that meshes with an outer periphery of the sun gear, and an outer periphery of a path around which the planetary gear revolves And a fixed gear that meshes with the planetary gear. Re or provided in one rotational member, fitting the and a shaft for rotatably supporting the planetary gears is provided, and a boss fixed to the other rotating member to regulate the vertically movable and rotate relative to said rotary shaft Then, by rotating the sun gear, the one rotating member is rotated through the revolution of the planetary gear, the guide bar is moved forward and backward, and the boss is moved up and down with respect to the rotating shaft, By adjusting the height of the rotating body, the rotating members are rotated relative to each other through the revolution of the planetary gear, so that a large space between containers can be adjusted by a simple operation without requiring a large force. Can be changed. Furthermore, by adjusting the height by raising and lowering the upper rotating body with a very simple operation, it is possible to cope with various types of containers having different sizes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a container interval adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container interval adjusting device.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container space | interval adjustment apparatus 2 Rotating body 6 Lower rotating member 8a Sliding groove 10 Upper rotating member (rotary disk)
10a Guide groove 24 engaging part (pin)
26 sun gear 28 planetary gear 30 fixed gear 32 pin

Claims (1)

A rotating body composed of a pair of upper and lower rotating members capable of relative rotation, a rotating shaft for rotating the rotating body, radial sliding grooves formed at equal intervals on one of the rotating members, and in each sliding groove A guide bar that is fitted to be movable forward and backward, a guide groove that is formed on the other rotating member and intersects each sliding groove at an equal angle, and is provided in each guide bar. In the container interval adjusting device provided with an engaging portion that is engaged and guided, and by rotating both rotating members relative to each other, each guide bar is moved forward and backward in the sliding groove.
A planetary gear arranged coaxially with the two rotating members and capable of rotating relative to the two rotating members, a planetary gear meshing with the outer periphery of the sun gear, and an outer periphery of a path of revolution of the planetary gear. A fixed gear that meshes with the gear, and a shaft that is provided on any one of the rotating members and that rotatably supports the planetary gear, and a boss that fixes the other rotating member can be moved up and down on the rotating shaft; By restricting relative rotation and fitting, and rotating the sun gear, the one rotating member is rotated through the revolution of the planetary gear to move the guide bar forward and backward, and the boss is rotated. The container interval adjusting device is characterized in that the height of the rotating body is adjusted by moving it up and down.

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